A NEW exhibition will open on the 150th anniversary of the assassination of US President Abraham Lincoln and mark Glasgow’s controversial role in the American Civil War.

Clyde-built ships played a vital part in running the naval blockade of the Confederacy, which was fighting for independence in opposition to Lincoln’s abolition of slavery. Huge fortunes were made supporting those fighting to keep slaves.

The Confederate coast of America, from Texas to Virginia, was under naval blockade from the Union forces who were attempting to strangle the economic and military capacity of the southern states.

More than 600,000 Union and Confederate soldiers died during the four-year war and much of the infrastructure in the south was destroyed. The Confederacy ended and slavery was abolished.

“Blockade Runners” at the Riverside Museum includes objects connect to trade and Glasgow’s involvement in the war, and the effects of the blockade on the city and the UK.

Many of the objects in the display have rarely, if ever, been seen by the public (Image: Ian Watson)

Chairman of Glasgow Life, Councillor Archie Graham, said: “This thought-provoking display is a wonderful new addition at Riverside. It charts how Glasgow profited from converting and building ships for use during the American Civil War, but importantly it challenges visitors to think at what cost this profit was made.

“While many made huge fortunes from the trade in blockade running ships, there was great opposition to supporting the Southern States due to the issue of slavery, which was banned in the British Empire in 1833.

“Blockade Runners tackles an aspect of Glasgow’s history that is not generally held up to public scrutiny within museums and I would encourage people to visit the display and join in the debate.”

The exhibit, with models of eight ships, focuses on November 1863 when Lincoln his famous Gettysburg Address and six of the vessels were active. It explains the background of the conflict, the technological developments at the time and why Clyde ships were ideal for running blockades.

A rare Confederate flag, flown from the Glasgow home of successful businessman James Smith, is also include in the display. At the start of the war he supported his former home town of Jackson, Mississippi, by funding the purchase of armaments and continued to fly the flag in support of his brother who still lived in the state.

A rifle from 1858 and oil painting of the steamer Advance and a cotton dress are also part of the show.

Many of the objects have rarely, if ever, been on display in Glasgow and is designed to encourage discussion of complex issues, said curators.

The University of Glasgow’s Archives, which contributed to the creation of the display, contains 680 plans of 156 vessels built on the Clyde in the 19th century and were designed to beat the Union blockade of the Confederacy during the Civil War. The plans were constructed by William Simons & Co Ltd, have recently been restored and are now available to be viewed by students, researchers and members of the public.